Chapter 1327 Transformations <TOC> Chapter 1329 Special Issue
Translator: SumTLMan
Though Angel had his suspicions, there was a pang of realization when Sanders confirmed them. Truly, items that enhance one’s luck are such rare treasures in this world.
“If I really can’t find it, I suppose I’ll try to secure a Fragment of Constant and trade with Velite,” Angel said with a hint of resignation.
Sanders reassured, “I’ll keep a vigilant eye out for you.”
Sanders’s fervent search wasn’t just altruism. He had an underlying desire to study the power of the Wilderness of Dreams sooner. If all else fails, he doesn’t mind approaching Velite directly. Though the Fragment of Constant is pricey, with the Dream Conch, bringing a magic rune scroll that augments luck into the Wilderness of Dreams can enable limitless replications, which, in essence, would be quite the profitable venture.
“Has Mentor reached Steampunk Theme Park now?” Angel inquired. If the endeavor at Lady Hydra’s turned up empty, by Sanders’s itinerary, he should be at the Steampunk Theme Park by now.
Sanders nodded affirmatively, “I’m currently at Steampunk Theme Park.”
“And has Mentor found the materials to heal Jon’s injuries?” Angel’s voice held a hint of urgency. Compared to the magic rune scroll that boosts luck, Angel’s hopes and concerns now were gravitating more toward Jon’s wellbeing.
“I’ve found some,” Sanders paused, revealing a mysterious expression, “However, more than the materials I found, I stumbled upon something rather intriguing.”
Angel looked at Sanders with bemused anticipation.
“The latest issue of —City Firefly’s Night Whisper—.”
…
On the eastern shores of the Vast Continent, at Shampoo Shore, stood a tall ship brandishing a pirate flag, majestically docked by the coast.
The pirate flag bore the emblem of a skull donning a pirate’s hat. Notably, the skull had a long cigarette perched between its teeth.
When the pirate ship approached the shore, it sent shockwaves through the fishermen residing near Shampoo Shore.
For these sea-reliant souls, three calamities evoked the utmost dread: storms, merfolk, and pirates.
The region was often buffeted by fierce storms, with tempestuous winds sometimes whipping up waves reaching staggering heights of several tens of meters. Consequently, as the stormy season approached, the neighboring fishing villages would turn into ghost towns, with inhabitants migrating inland. It’s safe to say that storms represented the most fearsome natural disasters.
As for the merfolk, the waters near Shampoo served as a nexus for the Feg merfolk. To wizards, these merfolk were a prized commodity. However, for the local fishermen, an encounter with a Feg mermaid heralded nothing short of catastrophe.
The Feg merfolk had a penchant for human flesh, and their innate animosity towards mankind was palpable. Any fisherman crossing their path had slim chances of seeing another sunrise.
Besides the dual threats of merfolk and storms, pirates remained the ever-present thorn in the fishermen’s side.
While storms were predictable and merfolk limited to certain territorial waters, pirates were a different kettle of fish. They were an unrestrained, conscienceless bunch with a deeply ingrained bloodlust, capable of appearing any time of the year.
Each time they came ashore, they left a trail of plunder, frequently accompanied by a toll of human lives and abductions.
Storms were acts of nature; merfolk, a natural adversary. But pirates? They epitomized human infighting.
In the grand tapestry of human conflicts, internal strife often overshadows external threats in terms of sheer brutality.
Hence, it’s fair to conclude that of all their fears, fishermen reserved their deepest loathing for pirates.
Now, with a pirate ship anchored along the coast, the once calm visages of the fishermen transformed into masks of panic. A unanimous cry filled the air as they sprinted towards the village, yelling, “The pirates have landed! Quick, hide the women and children, and seek refuge in the forest!”
As the villagers hastily retreated into safety, a young man, previously lounging under the sun by the seaside, stood up, gravitating towards the shore.
“Reynolds! Are you courting death? Come back!” An old fisherman shouted in alarm, having witnessed the young man’s audacious move.
Reynolds, casting aside his usual languid demeanor, addressed the elder earnestly, “I’ve nearly regained my strength and had planned to leave the shores of Shampoo today. I never anticipated a pirate attack. I was pondering how to repay your life-saving grace. Well, it seems I don’t need to deliberate further — I’ll offer these pirates’ heads as my token of gratitude.”
Finishing his declaration, Reynolds remained unfazed by the fisherman’s pleas and adamantly moved towards the direction of the pirate ship.
The fisherman, fraught with anxiety, couldn’t help but recall the time half a month ago when they had found Reynolds, unconscious amidst the waves, his body littered with a mosaic of old and fresh wounds. His robust physique spoke of latent strength, prompting speculations regarding his formidable combat power.
However, ever since his awakening, Reynolds hadn’t displayed any inkling of his martial abilities. His habitual sunbathing by the seaside made villagers slowly dismiss their initial impressions.
Witnessing Reynolds’ defiant stride, the fishermen exchanged concerned glances. While they believed in Reynolds’ potential combat power, they were up against a formidable pirate ship with at least dozens on board. Could Reynolds really fend off such odds?
Indecision flitted across the old fisherman’s eyes. After some contemplation, he turned to some agile young men and instructed, “Head back first. Ensure the women take refuge in the woods. We… we shall back up Reynolds.”
This “back up” was not about fighting per se, but more about negotiating with the pirates, offering reparations and pleading for leniency if Reynolds met with misfortune.
Leading a group of brave souls, the old fisherman followed closely behind Reynolds.
Soon, they caught sight of the pirate ship at the coast, its flag billowing audaciously under the vast expanse of the sky.
Reynolds stood at the forefront, his gaze intently fixed upon the pirate ship in the distance. Movement stirred on its deck, suggesting the presence of figures, yet no pirate set foot ashore.
Then, the echo of a horn reverberated across the horizon.
From the silhouette of the ship, a figure gracefully descended along the anchor rope, executed a nimble mid-air flip, and landed elegantly on the sandy shore.
Raising an eyebrow in surprise, Reynolds hadn’t expected just a single individual to disembark.
As the figure gestured emphatically back towards the ship, the locals, thinking it to be a sign of an imminent attack, paled with fear and began retreating. It was only when those aboard the pirate ship waved back did they realize: was this… a farewell?
Listening closely, Reynolds discerned their words of parting. What astounded him wasn’t their apparent farewell, but rather… the lone figure was a woman!
“Are you a pirate?” Reynolds eyed the cloaked woman with a hint of suspicion.
Having concluded her farewell, she glanced back at the ship as it set sail once again. Turning to face Reynolds, her voice melodic, she confirmed, “Yes, I am a pirate.”
Captivated by her entrancing tone, Reynolds momentarily lost himself. Shaking off the distraction, he sternly responded, “Well, then you must know the consequences.”
Preparing to confront the female pirate, his attention was suddenly drawn to shouts from the fishermen behind him. Following their gazes, he noted the departing pirate ship now flew a merchant flag in place of the pirate flag.
“What… what game are they playing?” Reynolds exclaimed in confusion.
Could it be a ruse? Disguising themselves only to reveal their true predatory nature when preying upon unsuspecting ships? Such thoughts raced through Reynolds’ mind.
As dawn’s early light graced the horizon, a piece of black cloth fluttered down from the sky. Effortlessly, the female pirate caught it in midair, recognizing it as her former pirate flag.
Reynolds grew even more puzzled. If they were trying to blend in, why abandon their trademark pirate emblem?
Gazing at the flag in her hand, a look of nostalgia swept over the female pirate’s face. “This flag has sailed with me through countless adventures; I can’t just discard it so casually.”
While speaking, she carefully folded the flag and stowed it into her backpack.
Reynolds watched every move of the female pirate, torn between intervening and leaving her to her devices.
Just as he grappled with his indecision, startled exclamations erupted from the fishermen behind him. “Look! It’s… It’s a sea creature!”
Reynolds looked in the direction they pointed, spotting the ship previously disguised as a merchant vessel now several hundred meters away. But as they started to steer away, a ferocious sea beast suddenly reared its massive head above the water’s surface!
The part of the creature that broke through the water’s surface alone was a staggering five to six meters tall. It was none other than the Blood Feasting Sea Lion, notorious for feasting on merfolk in nearby waters!
With a powerful lash of its tail, it created a towering wave that shimmered in the morning light. Simultaneously, its gaping mouth revealed countless razor-sharp teeth, lunging for the pirate ship!
Witnessing this spectacle, the fishermen were at a loss for words. Should they shout a warning? But wasn’t that vessel a pirate ship just moments ago? Or should they revel in the pirate’s misfortune? Yet, the only pirate they’d seen was a seemingly frail woman, and the ship had already distanced itself without showing any intention of pillaging.
Amid the fishermen’s conflicting emotions, the female pirate who had disembarked earlier suddenly turned around.
“Strange, I hadn’t noticed this sea creature before,” the female pirate whispered to herself in wonder.
She gracefully extended her right hand. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, she elegantly removed her glove, revealing the shimmering metallic sheen of a mechanical hand beneath.
She aimed her palm toward the sea creature, and with a rhythmic ticking, everyone clearly observed luminous azure dots materializing at the center of her mechanical palm.
When these dots converged, a tangible spiral tornado erupted from her palm, accompanied by a resounding roar, reaching the sea beast in the blink of an eye.
With a deafening thud, the sea beast’s head was punctured by this spiral tornado, blood spattering and brains splashing out.
The enormous creature plummeted into the sea, creating a significant wave in its wake.
“Handled,” the female pirate murmured with satisfaction.
Her astonishing display left everyone in awe. The fishermen finally recognized the identity of the female pirate——a transcendent!
Only a transcendent could wield such terrifying power, capable of instantly slaying the Blood Feasting Sea Lion.
Initially, the fishermen thought little of a female pirate, but now, their legs quivered in trepidation. If she truly were a transcendent, annihilating their entire village would be no feat for her.
As the fishermen stood bewildered, the female pirate turned to the silent Reynard and inquired, “You’re an apprentice too, aren’t you? I seem to recall there’s a wizard market around here. Could you point me to it?”
“I heard that —City Firefly’s Night Whisper— is releasing soon. I need to check if they have information on the Novastar Competition,” the female pirate muttered to herself. Noting Reynard’s lack of response, she had an epiphany and added:
“I almost forgot to introduce myself. My name is Nausica. Once a pirate, now a witch apprentice.”
Chapter 1327 Transformations <TOC> Chapter 1329 Special Issue